ὠφελέω (G5623) — Greek Lexicon

ὠφελέω

ōpheléō

G5623 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring benefit or advantage; to be of use, help, or value to someone or something. In various contexts, it denotes conferring a tangible benefit, advancing interests, improving a situation, or being effective or profitable. The term can also suggest gaining an advantage or making progress toward a desired goal. In negative contexts, it may express the lack of benefit or futility of an action.

Semantic Range

to benefit, to be of use, to render assistance, to bring advantage, to profit, to do good, to prevail, to be effective, to improve a situation, to make progress, to be valuable, to aid

Root / Etymology

From the noun ὠφέλεια (benefit, advantage), itself possibly built on an uncertain root, but likely linked with ὀφέλλω (to increase or swell, an older verb). The etymological relationship suggests the meaning 'to cause benefit or increase.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ὠφελέω is attested with a general sense of assisting, benefiting, sustaining, or being of service (e.g., to individuals, the state, or through advice and action). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, its semantic range narrows toward direct practical or spiritual benefit. In the New Testament, it regularly occurs in questions or statements about the value or advantage of actions, e.g., "What does it benefit a person..." The verb is often negated, emphasizing futility when real advantage is lacking. English translations such as 'profit,' 'benefit,' or 'be of use' capture core meanings, but can obscure the verb's broader range, especially its application to both practical and moral/spiritual contexts. Septuagint usage mirrors the Hebrew verb יָעַל (to profit, benefit), often as a translation thereof. Related terms include ὠφέλιμος (useful, beneficial) and ὠφέλεια (benefit, advantage).

Translation Consistency

primary "benefit" 14 occurrences

'Benefit' best captures the typical range of ὠφελέω in natural English: to be of use, to bring advantage, to profit, or to do good. It matches the majority of existing renderings, is neutral and versatile across literal and figurative contexts, and yields natural-sounding inflected forms (benefits, benefited, benefiting).

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"profited" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as ὠφέλεια; to be useful, i.e. to benefit:--advantage, better, prevail, profit.

Root Family

ὠφελέω (ōpheleō) — to benefit, to help, to be useful

Root ὠφελ- to benefit, to help, to be useful

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5623-01`	ὠφελεῖ	ophelei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	profits	benefits	benefits	4
`G5623-08`	ὠφεληθῇς	ophelethes	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG`	you might be benefited	you might be benefited	you might be benefited	2
`G5623-10`	ὠφεληθήσεται	ophelethesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will profit	will be benefited	will be benefited	1
`G5623-06`	ὠφελήσω	opheleso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	will I profit	I will benefit	I will benefit	1
`G5623-04`	ὠφελήσει	ophelesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will profit	he/she/it will benefit	will benefit	1
`G5623-05`	ὠφέλησεν	ophelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	profit	brought benefit	brought benefit	1
`G5623-11`	ὠφελοῦμαι	opheloumai	`V PRS PASS IND 1P SG`	I am profited	I was being benefited	I am profited	1
`G5623-07`	ὠφεληθεῖσα	opheletheisa	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	benefited	having been benefited	having been benefited	1
`G5623-02`	ὠφελεῖται	opheleitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is profited	is being benefited	is being benefited	1
`G5623-09`	ὠφελήθησαν	ophelethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	profited	they were benefited	they were benefited	1
`G5623-03`	ὠφελεῖτε	opheleite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	doing any good	you are benefiting	you are benefiting	1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5623-08`	Matthew 15:5	ὠφεληθῇς	ophelethes	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG`	you might be benefited	you might be benefited	you might be benefited
`G5623-10`	Matthew 16:26	ὠφεληθήσεται	ophelethesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will profit	will be benefited	will be benefited
`G5623-01`	Matthew 27:24	ὠφελεῖ	ophelei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	accomplishes	benefits	benefits
`G5623-07`	Mark 5:26	ὠφεληθεῖσα	opheletheisa	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	benefited	having been benefited	having been benefited
`G5623-08`	Mark 7:11	ὠφεληθῇς	ophelethes	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG`	you might be profited	you might be benefited	you might be benefited
`G5623-01`	Mark 8:36	ὠφελεῖ	ophelei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	does it profit	benefits	benefits
`G5623-02`	Luke 9:25	ὠφελεῖται	opheleitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is profited	is being benefited	is being benefited
`G5623-01`	John 6:63	ὠφελεῖ	ophelei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	profits	benefits	benefits
`G5623-03`	John 12:19	ὠφελεῖτε	opheleite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	doing any good	you are benefiting	you are benefiting
`G5623-01`	Romans 2:25	ὠφελεῖ	ophelei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	profits	benefits	benefits
`G5623-11`	1 Corinthians 13:3	ὠφελοῦμαι	opheloumai	`V PRS PASS IND 1P SG`	I am profited	I was being benefited	I am profited
`G5623-06`	1 Corinthians 14:6	ὠφελήσω	opheleso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	will I profit	I will benefit	I will benefit
`G5623-04`	Galatians 5:2	ὠφελήσει	ophelesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will profit	he/she/it will benefit	will benefit
`G5623-05`	Hebrews 4:2	ὠφέλησεν	ophelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	profit	brought benefit	brought benefit
`G5623-09`	Hebrews 13:9	ὠφελήθησαν	ophelethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	profited	they were benefited	they were benefited

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